The Ancient and Medieval Architecture of India: A Study of Indo-Aryan Civilisation c2: Preface
The Ancient and Medieval Architecture of India: A Study of Indo-Aryan Civilisation c2
- Language
- English
Preface
c2.1
All but the last three chapters of this book were written before the fateful days of August which saw Great Britain once more engaged in fighting for the liberties of Europe against a hateful military despotism. The splendid demonstration of Indian loyalty which the war has called forth should not blind the British nation to the fact that the work of building up our Empire in the East, so far from being finished, will inevitably grow more difficult year by year and demand more watchful care from British statesmen.
c2.2
It will certainly be impossible for Great Britain to continue to refuse India privileges which our ally, Russia, is willing to grant to her Asiatic subjects; and the problem of reconciling Indian aspirations with the vital interests of the Empire can only be solved satisfactorily by avoiding the dangers into which we have drifted with regard to the government of Ireland. The root of the Irish difficulties has lain in ignorance of Irish sentiment and Irish history. Similar causes will sooner or later produce similar effects on a far larger scale in India. It is therefore that I believe myself to be fulfilling a patriotic duty in endeavouring to remove the misconceptions of Indian civilisation which have so largely governed Anglo-Indian policy. It is good to remind ourselves how history is repeating itself—that our Indian comrades-in-arms are of the same stock as those who fifteen hundred years ago were fighting on Indian soil the same battles for liberty and for Aryan civilisation against those who, like the modern Huns, knew no right but might, as we are fighting together in Europe to-day. It is good for us to know that Indian civilisation is a branch of the same tree which we are proud to call our own. And this very feeling of comradeship makes it imperative for us to try to understand the political and social ideals which India herself has cherished for so many centuries, rather than impose upon her those which we, from our Western experience, judge to be best for her.
c2.3
Great Britain could grant India no greater boon than the restoration or reconstruction of her ancient Aryan constitution. None would accord better with Indian popular sentiment or do more to strengthen the ties of Imperial unity.
c2.4
The present volume is supplementary to my "Indian Architecture: its Psychology, Structure, and History," which dealt with the Muhammadan and British periods, but it has a wider scope as a study of the political, social, religious, and artistic aspects of Indo-Aryan civilisation, as revealed in the ancient and medieval monuments of India. For the chronological and statistical framework of it I have mostly used the data furnished by such well-known authorities as Professor T. W. Rhys Davids’ “Buddhist India,” Mr. Vincent Smith’s “Early History of India,” and Dr. Barnett’s “Antiquities of India.” The interpretation of Indian history and mythology through the reading of the symbolism of Indian art is my own, and my authorities the architecture, sculpture, and painting here illustrated. If my reading is wrong, my critics will convict me of error from the same sources.
c2.5
The reasons for rejecting entirely Fergusson’s classifications of styles and some of the chronological estimates which have hitherto been adopted by all archæologists are stated in the text. Owing to the fact that for the last fifty years archæological research in India has been conducted entirely on the lines laid down by Fergusson, it has been sometimes difficult for me, not having had the opportunities of collecting material for myself which officers of the Archæological Survey of India enjoy, to give a sufficiently clear demonstration of various statements. The position of unquestioned authority which Fergusson’s works have hitherto obtained has unfortunately had the effect of preventing the collection and publication of much material which would demonstrate the fallacies of his theories; but I have not the least doubt that a great deal more will be forthcoming when the clues I have given are carefully followed up. In the meantime I must content myself with making the most of the material at my disposal. At some future time I hope to be able to deal with the subject more effectively in every respect.
c2.6
I have to acknowledge the valuable assistance rendered me by the Secretary of State for India in granting me permission to use illustrations from official publications. In etymological questions Professor T. W. Rhys Davids and Mr. F. W. Thomas have freely given me the aid of their accomplished scholarship. Dr. J. H. Marshall, C.I.E. (Director-General of the Archæological Survey of India), Mr. Abanindro Nath Tagore, C.I.E., Mr. Nanda Lal Bose, M. Victor Goloubeff and the Editor of *L’Art Decoratif*, Paris, have helped me much with the illustrations. I am indebted to Mr. Ratan Tata for placing at my disposal reports on the excavations now in progress on the site of Pâtaliputra, and to Mr. Murray for allowing me the use of blocks from Fergusson’s works. Messrs. Johnston & Hoffmann, Calcutta, have permitted me to reproduce one of their copyright negatives, and I have to thank Mr. J. Marshall for some useful references.